Self-opening pin or clip for the hair



Feb. 7, 1950 55m, 5 2,496,656

SELF-OPENING PIN 0R CLIP FOR THE HAIR Filed 001;. 16, 1948 Patented Feb. 7, 1956 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SELF-OPENING PIN OR CLIP FOR THE HaroldR. Bein, Sr., Westfield, Mass,

Application Gctober 16, 1948; Serial No. 54,890 2 Claims. (01-. 132-50)- extending beyond the end portion of the other,

with these said ends being arranged in diverging relation.

As a special feature of my invention, the side members are provided with contiguous reversed curves or S curves to facilitate the easy and ready insertion of hair strands into the device while at the same time the hair is held firmly without danger of the same being accidentally displaced therefrom.

With the above primary object in view, it is another object of my invention to provide a construction formed from a single strip of material which is doubled. uponitself to form side members which are shaped as will hereinafter appear. The material consists of metal which is yieldable to the extent that the side members normally assume their contiguous relation without undue pressure on the hair therebetween. The particular formation of the side members provides the hair embracing function instead of the hair being gripped between spring-like members according to prior art devices. Thereby the hair is not injured and the device is used with ease and sureness.

The configuration of the side members prevents sidewise tilting of the device on the hair strands while at the same time the device resists unwanted longitudinal sliding movements on the hair.

The device in general is adapted for slipping over formations of the hair for holding the hair over an interval of time so that when removed the hair will have the desired form. For example, the device may be used for slipping over curls of hair such as pin curls and the like, or it may be used in place of the so-called bobby pin. The uses of the device are many and varied and has many and various advantages over prior art devices as will hereinafter appear.

With the foregoing and various other novel features and advantages and other objects of my invention as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be bling a. single elongated strip of metal upon itself 2: hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto annexed and more fully described and referred to in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

Figs. 1 and 2 are side elevational and inverted plan views respectively ofa hair pin or clip embodying the novel features of my invention.

In the above mentioneddrawingsannexedhereto and formin a part of this specification, I have shownbut one embodiment of my invention which isdeemed preferable, but it is to: b'e understood that changesxands modifications may: be made within the scope of the} appended claims without departing fromtheispirit of the inventlon.

. "Referring now t'o the different drawings more in' detail, in which similar characters of reference indicate;corresponding:partsdn allthe figures and referring :more particularly to the preferred form of my invention selected for illustrative purposes, Lhave shown a 'device'Z which is formed by douto provide a loop 4 and-upper and-lower members 6 and 8respectivelyr A free end in of the member 8 extends beyond a free end l2 of the member 6, all as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The member 6 intermediate its ends is formed to have reverse curves l4 and i6 and the member 8 is formed to have curves l8 and 20 contiguous therewith, as shown.

The end l2 of the member 6 extends angularly away from the end IU of member 8 so that the said ends are in diverging relation substantially as shown.

Although not necessary in all cases, it will be desired to form the end I Z of member 6 so that it curves longitudinally and transversely so as to be spoon shaped and to present a smooth convex outer surface.

It may be desired in some cases to form the loop s so that it is relatively wider than the main body of the strip and in such a way that the sides of the loop converge gradually toward the opposite sides of the upper and lower membars 6 and 8 respectively.

The strip of material from which the device is formed will be such that the side members will yield relatively. As an example, yieldable metal such as steel which is treated for a spring-like function has been found to be especially adapted for my invention.

The device will be adapted for many and various uses in holding hair in the desired formation. As an example, a pin curl may be formed and held by the device by slipping the end I!) beneath 2,49aee the hair of the curl so that the hair slips easily through the contiguous outer ends of the members and along between the curves of said members.

The curves l4 and I8 function with a braking and holding action while the curves [6 and 20 firmly hold the hair, the upper and lower members yielding so that the hair may pass therealong.

The device of my invention has one special feature worthy of calling attention to at this time. It does not require the use of teeth, nails or similar items when it is desired to open the same. That is, the device is so constructed that it may be easily opened without the use oi accessories or the like.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. Hence, the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely as being illustrative and not as being restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications and variations as fall within the meaning and purview and range of equivalency of the appended claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A clip for the hair comprising in combination, an elongated strip of resilient metal of relatively greater width than thickness doubled upon itself intermediate its opposite ends to form an inner loop and provide upper and lower members extending forwardly therefrom, said upper and lower members converging forwardly from said loop into contiguous relation providing a contiguous elongated portion, said contiguous portion curving forwardly and upwardly and downwardly and forwardly in the form of a single elongated 8 curve and the forward outer end of said lower member continuing to a substantially flat extremity, an outer forward end of the upper transversely providing forward surfaces thereto which curve rearwardly thereof.

2. A clip for the hair comprising in combination, an elongated strip of resilient metal doubled upon itself intermediate its ends forming an inner loop and providing upper and lower members extending forwardly therefrom, the upper and lower members converging forwardly from the loop into contiguous relation providing a contiguous elongated portion curving forwardly and upwardly and downwardly and forwardly in the form of a single elongated 8 curve, the forward outer end of the;1ower member continuing to a substantially flat extremity, an outer forward end of the upper member terminating inwardly of the end of the lower member in an extremity disposed upwardly and forwardly in relation to the extremity of the lower member and providing therewith a V-shaped entrance between the upper and lower members, the extremity of the upper member being concaved longitudinally and transversely providing forward surfaces curving rearwardly thereof.

HAROLD R. BEIN, S-x.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,528,454 Taggart Mar. 3, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 254,987 Great Britain July 15, 1926 

